Chapter 131 Truly Resilient
Her eyes flickered, as if she was unsure whether she should accept this "kind offer".
Qiao Wanyin didn't even lift her eyelids, coldly uttering three words: "Throw it in the trash can."
Meng Zhiyuan sighed, gently stroking the silk scarf's packaging box with his fingers, and whispered, "Take a look first."
The moment the lid was lifted, a faint scent of camphor mixed with the aroma of time wafted out.
Inside, a dark green silk scarf lay quietly, and beneath it, a photograph with yellowed edges and slightly curled up was prominently displayed.
She held her breath and carefully pulled the photo out.
The photo shows her with Fang Xiaolin on the day she first arrived in Hong Kong.
Qiao Wanyin's hand trembled, and the photo almost slipped from her fingers.
Her face turned deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from her.
Fang Xiaolin...
What exactly do they want to do?
What exactly did he want her to remember, or what did he want to force her to confront?
Just then, Meng Zhiyuan stepped closer and whispered almost in her ear, "He asked me to tell you that if you want to see him alone, he can return all those photos to you, including the negatives."
Qiao Wanyin's fingers twitched suddenly, her nails making a faint sound as they scratched the edge of the box.
She stared blankly at the photo, never expecting that he would use it to blackmail her!
In that moment of silence and stillness, the female colleagues next to them looked at each other, their faces filled with surprise and confusion.
Finally, someone couldn't help but mutter to themselves.
"What exactly was the relationship between Director Qiao and that Mr. Lin before?"
“Look at those photos, the two of them don’t look like ordinary friends…”
"No wonder she was so agitated. Could it be that something happened in the past?"
"..."
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes cold and sharp as knives, like a beam of cold light sweeping across.
The group fell silent instantly, their lips pressed tightly together.
Seeing that things were not going well, Meng Zhiyuan stepped in front of Qiao Wanyin, blocking the prying eyes.
She said firmly, "Stop making wild guesses! Fang Xiaolin is no good at all! You have no idea what he's done!"
Xiao Li stood at the edge of the crowd, hesitated for a long time, and then spoke.
"But...he seems quite amiable, speaks politely, and even gave us tea...is he really that bad?"
"Would a bad person write the word 'bad' on their forehead?"
Meng Zhiyuan snorted coldly, his tone full of sarcasm.
"He gives you a little benefit, a little sweetness, and you speak up for him? Do you know how he treated Director Qiao in the past? Do you know what despicable things he has done?"
Qiao Wanyin stood there, her chest heaving, her fingertips still tightly clutching the yellowed photograph.
She couldn't let Fang Xiaolin use fragments of the past to disrupt her current life any longer.
She turned to Meng Zhiyuan, her tone clear and firm: "Zishu, do me a favor."
Meng Zhiyuan nodded immediately: "Go on, I'm listening."
"Don't keep any of these things; return them all to him."
She gently placed the photo back into the box, closed the lid, and moved with swift and decisive movements, as if making a final severance from the past.
She paused, then said, "If he dares to come again, just call the security department."
There was no wavering in her eyes, only utter resolve.
She didn't turn around, afraid that if she looked at that familiar door again, she would soften her heart.
The guesthouse where Fang Xiaolin stayed was indeed not far from the military family compound.
Meng Zhiyuan walked slowly along the sidewalk, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.
As she walked, she kept replaying Qiao Wanyin's words in her mind, feeling a mix of emotions.
Meng Zhiyuan arrived at the guesthouse entrance quickly.
"What exactly is this guy trying to do?"
She didn't know what Fang Xiaolin was up to, but she felt an inexplicable unease about the matter.
"Miss Meng, were you looking for me?"
A gentle male voice came from behind, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Meng Zhiyuan was startled, and his whole body trembled involuntarily.
She almost bumped into Fang Xiaolin, who had somehow appeared behind her.
Meng Zhiyuan subconsciously took half a step back, his fingers still tightly gripping the box, as if it were his only support.
She forced herself to stand firm, her voice slightly strained: "Mr. Lin, Wan Yin asked me to return these things to you."
The moment she finished speaking, she thrust the box forward, as if she was eager to get rid of something.
He then added, "Also, please don't contact her again."
Fang Xiaolin didn't take the box; instead, she looked at her thoughtfully.
She wasn't as dazzling as Qiao Wanyin, possessing a flamboyant beauty, but rather a simple and endearing charm.
It's so pure that you can see right through it, and it evokes a sense of tenderness.
"Miss Meng is the deputy commander's daughter, isn't she?"
Fang Xiaolin suddenly spoke, her tone carrying just the right amount of surprise.
“I read about your father in the newspapers in Hong Kong.”
He smiled slightly and added, "His military achievements are remarkable and admirable."
Meng Zhiyuan was taken aback, and his eyelashes trembled slightly.
"You...know my father?"
She asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with uncertainty and wariness.
"I have long admired your name."
Fang Xiaolin smiled slightly before reaching out to take the box, her movements calm and unhurried.
As his fingertips gently brushed across the back of her hand, Meng Zhiyuan involuntarily trembled.
She quickly withdrew her hand and hid it in her sleeve.
"Your father's achievements in the military are truly admirable."
“I’m back in the mainland to invest this time because I’m looking for an opportunity to get to know seniors like your father.”
He spoke sincerely, and there was not a trace of falsehood in his eyes.
Meng Zhiyuan frowned slightly.
She felt there was something off about what he was saying, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Upon seeing this, Fang Xiaolin immediately noticed her unusual behavior and adjusted her tone accordingly.
"Miss Meng and A Qing are very close?"
"Yes, I really like Sister Wanyin."
Meng Zhiyuan nodded slightly, his voice filled with admiration and appreciation, "She's really quite strong."
Fang Xiaolin's eyes flickered, a barely perceptible glint flashing in them.
He sighed softly, his voice low and slightly wistful.
"I came back this time to make up for the mistakes I made to Aqing back then."
"Unfortunately..." he paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice, "She seems to have a lot of opinions about me."
The scene he saw in the photo that day immediately flashed into Meng Zhiyuan's mind.
But now, in reality, Qiao Wanyin always has a cold face when facing Fang Xiaolin, and even her eyes are distant.
The stark contrast between the two events left her feeling somewhat unsettled.
She hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered up the courage to speak: "Sister Wanyin has her own ideas."
Her voice was soft but clear: "If you really want to make amends, maybe... it would be better to stay away from her."
Fang Xiaolin's lips curled into a helpless smile.
He looked up at Meng Zhiyuan, his gaze frank and direct, revealing an almost pleading earnestness.
You're right.
"But……"
He paused, his voice unconsciously lowering.
"I don't know many people in mainland China."
"Miss Meng, could you perhaps keep me company for a chat once in a while?"
"Just consider it..." His voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, "to help someone who wants to start over?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
